Prydvase med to ugler og et hoved. Kopi efter Pl. 15 i suiten af de i 1746 af Saly tegnede vaser, "Vasa a se inventa..." 1746 - 1846

This is an anonymous 18th-century drawing of a vase with owls and a head, copied from a design by Saly. The vase is adorned with potent symbols, drawing from a deep well of cultural memory. Owls, perched atop, traditionally signify wisdom and watchfulness, yet also darkness and melancholy. The prominent head motif, centrally placed, evokes classical antiquity, reminiscent of masks worn in ancient rituals, embodying spirits or deities. This head stares out, its gaze connecting us to ancestral beliefs. Consider how the owl, sacred to Athena, goddess of wisdom, has morphed through time. From a symbol of enlightenment to an omen of ill fortune, its meaning twists and turns. Such transformations reveal our ongoing dialogue with the past. The emotions evoked by these motifs—the awe, fear, or reverence they inspire—engage us on a subconscious level, echoing through generations. These symbols are not static; they resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different eras.